Description
This intersection consists of Fountain St. @ Forest Rd. & the dog-leg intersection from Forest to Dayton St. Vista Terrace also has a traffic light.
The current traffic pattern is dangerous and holds up traffic dramatically in the afternoons. From 3 PM (dismissal of school at Fountain & Emerson NW) to past 5 PM (early rush hour & avoiding Whalley Ave. construction) Fountain W-bound gets held up for 2 long blocks. School bus stop signs create a backlog.
BIG PROBLEM #1: This blockage is on the W-bound side of Fountain btw. Alden and Forest. My building is on Fountain btw. Emerson and Forest.
The road divider there makes the residents of this block approach from the W-bound side of Fountain. During crunch time it can take up to 15 minutes to get from Alden Ave. to my driveway. When I exit my parking lot at this time, the mandatory R turn depends on the kindness of strangers to let me out bcs. it's solid traffic.
BIG PROBLEM #2: There's no protected L onto Forest Rd. from Fountain St. Many, many people making this turn dive for it on the red, which means into heavy, still-oncoming traffic, bcs. E-bound Fountain has a longer green than W-bound Fountain. This aggravates the traffic congestion.
BIG PROBLEM #3: Traffic N on Forest Rd. backs up for 2+ blocks. At rush hour, cars can wait 10-15 minutes to get to the light.
*SUGGESTION*: This intersection is complicated and heavily travelled. Why not give each direction an exclusive green?
That would make the traffic pattern (going counter-clockwise): W-bound traffic on Fountain, S-bound, traffic on Dayton, E-bound traffic on Fountain, N-bound traffic on Forest.
Vista Terrace? Don't know, but there must be a way.
12 Comments
Sergio Rodriguez (Guest)
Rep. Pat Dillon (Guest)
If I understand you correctly, your comments also refer to a longstanding problem on Fountain St that is, I think, unsafe, and will probably require action on the city side. Mauro-Sheridan is configured for eight buses, and at 'crunch time' the actual number is closer to 25, and this stalls traffic for a long time. Some buses don't put their paddles out, and that's unsafe.
I brought DOT down months ago to see Fountain St for themselves, along with Mike Piscitelli, and later Alderman Lehtonen joined us. Mike Piscitelli agreed the timing and number of buses is a problem on Fountain. I'll check with City Hall to see if anyone followed up on that.
Rep. Pat Dillon
Rep. Pat Dillon (Guest)
Hi
1. My staff is contacting DOT on the state side.
2. New Haven's Dept of Traffic/Parking has agreed to meet with the Board of Ed on the bus issue.
3. City Hall will also look into the traffic signal. So you know, the city owns the traffic signals whether Forest Rd is a state road or not. So if the problem is generated by a traffic signal, you might contact your alderman or City Hall for follow up.
City Hall staff usually works pretty well with DOT given that many problems with Forest Rd are a challenge. They responded well to me today too since I called as soon as I saw your note.
Thanks for watching out for all of us. I'm confident the city will be responsive, and hope that will also be true of the state.
Rep Pat Dillon
Guest (Guest)
Rep. Pat Dillon (Guest)
Thank you!
Greg Dildine (former Ward 25 Alderman) (Registered User)
Closed me (Guest)
Reopened MH (Registered User)
Dear Mr. Rogriguez, Ms. Dillen, and Mr. Dildine,
Many thanks for your superquick answers and your action so far. I'm the original poster, and early next week I'll be in touch with each of you under my full name. I'm committed to helping with the follow-up, and I also plan to put regular updates here.
Guest's point about the walk signals is absolutely true, & I should have mentioned it.
Yours truly,
MH
Rep. Pat Dillon (Guest)
Sounds good. Contact me at Patricia.Dillon@cga.ct.gov or 18008428267.
Rep. Pat Dillon
MH (Registered User)
Acknowledged Department of Transportation, Traffic and Parking (Verified Official)
Closed Department of Transportation, Traffic and Parking (Verified Official)